Critical environmental concerns in wine production: an integrative review

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2013-08, Vol.53, p.232-242
• Main Authors: Christ, Katherine L., Burritt, Roger L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air pollution; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Cultivation; Economics; Energy use; Environment and sustainable development; Environmental management; Exact sciences and technology; Fermented food industries; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Greenhouse effect; Greenhouse gases; Pollution; Sustainable wine; Vitaceae; Viticulture; Wastes; Wine industry; Wine production; Wines; Wines and vinegars
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.04.007

Despite the wine industry's reputation as being environmentally safe, prior research has shown the cultivation of wine grapes and production of wine to be associated with a large number of environmental concerns. The present study utilised an integrative literature review to investigate key areas of environmental concern currently faced by organisations in the global wine industry. Concerns discussed include water use and quality, the generation and management of organic and inorganic waste streams, energy use and the production of greenhouse gas emissions, chemical use, land use issues and the impact on ecosystems. The review reveals current practice within wine organisations to be largely unexplored and inadequate. Practice is characterised by a lack of the quantitative environmental data required if the industry is to bring about lasting environmental improvement to operational processes, products, and towards economically and environmentally improved performance. •Environmental management for cleaner wine production is under-researched.•Literature reveals the wine industry faces a number of environmental concerns.•Different concerns affect different parts of the supply chain in different regions.•Research could help improve global wine-related environmental performance.•Wine producers fail to collect contextual quantitative environmental information.